Thinking about hitting NYC on two wheels but not sure if you’re ready for the lifestyle? Piaggio Group Americas may just have the answer for you.

The scooter manufacturer released a press release yesterday that if you contact your local dealer by July 21st, you’ve got an opportunity to buy a brand new Piaggio scooter for twelve months with the option to return the bike at the end of the year if the lifestyle just isn’t working out for you.

The scooters included in the 12 Month Test Ride are the Piaggio FLY 50, Piaggio FLY 150, Piaggio BV Tourer 250 and the Piaggio MP3 250. You can also choose from the Vespa S 50, Vespa LX 150, Vespa GTS 300 Super or the Aprilia Sportcity 50, ApriliaSportcity 125, Aprilia Scarabeo 100 and Aprilia Scarabeo 200.

Here’s the small print:

Agreement based on 36-month installment loan through Sheffield Financial.  After 12 months of ownership, customers who are current on payments have option to return vehicle and transfer ownership/payments to the selling dealer.  Due at delivery: 10% of MSRP, taxes, title, PDI, license and fees. Not all customers will qualify. Customer is responsible for excess wear and mileage over 4,000 miles at $0.10 /mile. Customers opting to make all 36 months of payments will own the bike at the end of the 36 month term. Program Period runs from June 1, 2009 through July 31, 2009. See your Piaggio Vespa Retailer for qualifications and complete details.

The press release follows below. For more information you can visit Piaggio’s USA website.

PRESS RELEASE:

Piaggio Group Americas Announces Industry-First Risk-Free 12-Month Test Ride

Parting can be sweet sorrow with Piaggio’s new trial ownership plan

NEW YORK, June 1, 2009 – Piaggio Group Americas, Inc., the importer of Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi scooters and motorcycles, has an offer that you just can’t refuse. If you’ve been tempted to join America’s rapidly growing scooter community but your plans have been on idle because you’re not sure whether you were born to ride, the time to discover your inner scooteristi is right now. Effective today, Piaggio invites consumers on a risk-free 12 Month Test Ride, an industry-first program that offers qualified buyers the opportunity to experience all the fun, savings and environmental benefits of select Piaggio, Aprilia and Vespa scooters without a long-term commitment. The 12 Month Test Ride offer includes the option to return the scooter to participating dealers after 365 days of ownership if the buyer decides that the two-wheel lifestyle just isn’t right for them after all.

The Piaggio scooters included in the 12 Month Test Ride are the Piaggio FLY 50, Piaggio FLY 150, Piaggio BV Tourer 250 and the Piaggio MP3 250. You can also choose from the Vespa S 50, Vespa LX 150, Vespa GTS 300 Super or the Aprilia Sportcity 50, Aprilia Sportcity 125, Aprilia Scarabeo 100 and Aprilia Scarabeo 200.

“It’s our mission to remove any roadblocks keeping even more Americans from discovering just how much money and time they can save, and how much fun they can have, by adding two wheels to their garage,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas. “The economic, environmental and lifestyle benefits of scooters are proven on a daily basis in major markets around the globe, and we think this hassle-free introduction to scooter ownership is a risk-free way for U.S. consumers to take a trial membership in our American scooter nation.”

Timoni believes that newcomers to the scooter lifestyle will quickly be convinced to make two wheels a permanent addition to their personal transportation fleets. Existing scooter owners already know that life on two wheels delivers fun and thrills. Practical benefits such as an average 70 mpg fuel economy and an average ownership and operating cost savings of $6,000 per year provide even more incentive to ride. With the majority of American households still owning two, three or more vehicles, swapping just one set of four wheels for two is an immediate solution to rev up personal savings while throttling back on foreign oil dependence, urban congestion and carbon dioxide emissions.

The 12 Month Test Ride is open to buyers who qualify for a 36-month closed-end finance term, exclusively offered through Piaggio Group America’s partner Sheffield Financial. To take advantage of the offer, the purchase must be completed by July 31, 2009. The risk-free return guarantee requires the completion of 12 scheduled loan payments and excludes upfront license, vehicle preparation, freight and tax fees as well as a 10% down payment based on the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

For more details about the 12 Month Test Your Ride, please visit www.PiaggioUSA.com

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